Houston pops up as Coca-Cola's choice for first U.S. plant in a decade

Houston pops up as Coca-Cola's choice for first U.S. plant in a decade

The new Coke facility is slated to open in 2020.
Photo courtesy of ABC13

In a move that signals potentially more new jobs (and a lot more fizz), Coca-Cola has announced plans for a new Houston production and distribution facility — the first U.S. facility to be built in a decade.

The plant will open in the first quarter of 2020, according to a statement from Coca-Cola Southwest Beverages. The 1 million-square-foot, state-of-the-art facility will include manufacturing with five new production lines, distribution, warehouse, and sales, which will enable the company to even better serve the Southeast Texas market.

The new facility is expected to cost approximately $250 million. Its “world-class design” is expected to enhance operations in the Southeast region of Texas by consolidating production from two of the company’s existing facilities and four distribution centers in Houston, per the company’s statement. The location of the proposed plant is yet to be announced.

“Coca-Cola has a long, rich history in Houston,” said Mark Schortman, president of Coca-Cola Southwest Beverages. “As a local bottler, we’ve been serving customers, consumers and communities in Texas for more than 100 years. We are committed to supporting future growth in the region, one of the fastest-growing markets in the U.S.”